Short hops and hard knocks with Red Sox beat writer Ian Browne.

February 2013

One day before Red Sox pitchers and catchers take the field for the first official team workout, owner John Henry spoke to the media in a wide-ranging, 25-minute discussion.

Entering his 12th season as the principal owner, Henry knows that the team was never in more dire straits than a year ago, when they went 69-93 and finished in last place.

While Henry again said that he thinks Bobby Valentine is a good manager, he was candid in acknowledging that Valentine was the wrong man for the 2012 Red Sox. Henry said that the three leaders of the ownership group — Henry, president/CEO Larry Lucchino and chairman Tom Werner — should bear the responsibility for making the wrong choice in Valentine.

The owner also took great exception to former manager Terry Francona’s claim in his recently-released book that Henry, Lucchino and Werner like baseball, but don’t love it.

Here are several samplings from Henry’s candid address.

Why is Henry optimistic going into 2013? “Well I would say especially in comparison to last year, I should be optimistic. You have to be optimistic we won’t have the same kind of injuries we had last year. I was told that we expect to have something like 15 percent of our payroll on the DL during any given season. Last year it was 45 percent. We had seven outfielders on the DL at one time. You have to be optimistic that if nothing else, we’ll be healthier than we were last year.”

Henry thinks that the loss of core organizational philosophies — such as building within the farm system and not over-extending with long-term deals with free agents — is most responsible for the recent demise of the franchise. “There’s no doubt in my mind that we had a core philosophy for a lot of years and we moved away from that philosophy and it’s hurt us. It’s definitely hurt us. Last year, I think was the beginning of trying to put us back on that track.”

When, why did the core philosophy change? “I think that when you have a certain amount of success, generally, you don’t tend to change your philosophy but in our case, there was a very profound shift in what we were trying to do. It’s a good question as to why. I would only be speculating as to why. There was a shift. We made a shift and I don’t think that ultimately with hindsight, it proved to be … I think the things we did when we first got here and started, which was the basic core philosophy of the Red Sox, was something we needed to get back to.”

Henry was incredulous that Francona and co-author Dan Shaughnessy asserted in their recent book that owners pressured former GM Theo Epstein and the baseball operations staff to make ‘sexy’ player acquisitions to help the team improve its television ratings. “I have to laugh. That’s just laughable [that] the shift in philosophy [was because of that] … No, no, no, I think we’ve been over that ground before. I created a lot of news before by being honest about it. It’s ludicrous to say that we signed any player since we’ve been here, for PR purposes. I don’t think anybody would assert that. And if it’s asserted, it’s just ludicrous.”

Did the Red Sox shift their philosophy because they were trying to find another competitive advantage? “I think people always look for an edge. Not always, but a lot of people look for an edge. If you think that maybe other people are catching on to your edge, you look for another one. But you’ve got to make sure that whatever edge you’re seeking to have is valid and there was … we had a big advantage. We had, I think, the right philosophy, we spent more money than anyone but the Yankees. It’s gotten more difficult. There are a lot more restrictions on spending now, there are more restrictions on the draft. You’ve got to be smarter, and you’ve got to make sure that if you’re seeking to have an edge, that it has validity.”

Henry, Lucchino and Werner don’t love baseball, according to Francona? “Uh, we were talking about the Senior League when we were walking out here. I don’t think I’ll comment on stuff like that because I would leave that in your hands. You’ve been around us for 12 years. I’m surprised nobody [in the media] has any comments and then we would have to defend ourselves in that regard.”

So you do love the game? “Again, I don’t want to be defensive. Especially about stuff that really is ridiculous. That’s ridiculous. “

Can the Red Sox win in 2013? “Yes.”

Can the Red Sox make the playoffs in 2013? “It’s hard to know at this point and we may not be finished [adding players]. I definitely think that we will contend for a playoff spot.”

Evaluating GM Ben Cherington: “Yeah, again, this week he took responsibility for what happened last year. but I think, again, part of the responsibility that I think we have and maybe we haven’t done as a good a job on it, is that we haven’t had the kind of depth that it turns out that we need. That’s one thing that he’s worked on, that we’ve worked on this year, to think more in terms of depth, to plan more for an injury. It’s difficult. When you have your best players injured, even if you have sufficient depth, it’s hard to be a playoff team.”

How much responsibility does Bobby Valentine deserve for last season? “You know, it’s always hard to say how much a manager impacts performance. I think that Bobby Valentine is a great baseball manager – a great baseball mind. It’s clear in retrospect that he wasn’t the right man for that group last year. So, I don’t think you can blame Bobby for that. You can blame us. You can blame me or Larry or Tom. But I think he should manage again and he could be a great manager for the right team.”

For a pitcher with Koji Uehara’s experience and stats, he probably had quite a few options when he was a free agent this winter? So why did he wind up with the Red Sox?

“I felt like the Red Sox wanted me more than the other teams. I felt wanted the most by this organization,” said Uehara, who arrived at camp on Sunday. “I feel comfortable about my role. I still have to compete for a position. I heard that John Farrell, when he was with Toronto, he liked me as a pitcher.”

Uehara was one of several Red Sox players to arrive on Sunday, including Mike Napoli and David Ross.

The righty came over from Japan in 2009, but he followed closely when Daisuke Matsuzaka arrived in Boston amid much hype in 2007.

“I was envious,” Uehara said. “I wanted to be there. He was a great pitcher and I also wanted to come over here.”

A starter upon his arrival in the Majors, Uehara has settled into a fine reliever the last three seasons. For the Orioles, Uehara proved he can succeed in the American League East. He put up solid numbers with the Rangers last season.

“Of course it helps, my experience in the AL East,” Uehara said. “Texas was also a small park. That challenge helps.”

Uehara and all other Red Sox pitchers and catchers will undergo physicals on Monday. The first pitchers-catchers workout will be Tuesday.

If Napoli, who has a hip condition, reaches 165 days on the active roster in 2013, he makes a base of $13 million. If he does not reach 165 days, here are his incentives for being healthy and playing:

He’ll get $500,000 for each of 300, 325, 350, and 375 plate appearances. Then, Napoli gets $1,000,000 for each of 400, 475, 550 and 625 plate appearances.

In that same vein, if Napoli doesn’t reach that 165-active day mark, he also gets a $500,000 bonus for each of 30, 60, 90 and 120 days on the active roster.

The bottomline: if Napoli’s playing, even if he doesn’t reach 165 days, he’ll make well more than $5 million.

Napoli also contractually has a suite on the road, and has awards bonuses: $50,000 for All-Star, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove or an LCS MVP Award. He’d make $100,000 for a World Series MVP or regular season MVP ($75,000 for second and $50,000 for third).

WEEI’s Alex Speier previously reported Mike Napoli’s contract info.

More Red Sox contract info:

Andrew Bailey is making $4,100,000 plus $25,000 for 25, 30, 35 and 40 games finished. He also gets $25,000 for an All-Star selection, Rolaids award and LCS MVP. He gets $50,000 for World Series MVP, and $100,000 for Cy Young ($50,000 for second, $25,000 for third). He would make $100,000 for MVP ($50,000 for second and $25,000 for third).

Daniel Bard is making $1,862,500.

Craid Breslow makes $2,325,000 in 2013 and $3,825,000 in 2014. The 2015 club option is for $4,000,000 or a $100,000 buyout.

Jacoby Ellsbury’s salary is $9 million.

Joel Hanrahan is making $7,040,000. He gets $15,000 for 45, 50, 55 or 60 games finished. He gets $25,000 for an All Star selection, Rolaids award and LCS MVP. He gets $50,000 for World Series MVP, and $100,000 for Cy Young ($50,000 for second, $25,000 for third). He would make $100,000 for MVP ($50,000 for second and $25,000 for third).

Andrew Miller has a base salary of $1,475,000, plus $25,000 for 60 games and $25,000 for 65 games.

Franklin Morales is making $1,487,500.

Lyle Overbay would make $22,000 per month in the Minors or $1,250,000 in the Majors. He gets $50,000 for 350 plate appearances, and $100,000 for 400 and 450 plate appearances. If not on 40-man roster on March 26, he will be released if requested or added to roster within 48 hours.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia is making $4,500,000.

Ryan Sweeney makes $1,250,000 in Majors, plus $50,000 for 350 plate appearances; $100,000 for 400 and 450 plate appearances. If not on Major League roster on March 28, he will released if requested.

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